What I Wish I Knew at 17: You Are Not Broken—Even If You Feel Like It

Growing Up Feeling Different

Back in my day…

That’s how a lot of stories start when people talk about the past.

But for me, growing up neurodivergent in the ‘90s wasn’t just different—it was isolating.

Nobody talked about ADHD, social anxiety, or neurodivergence the way they do now.

Back then, if you didn’t communicate or think the way everyone else did, it wasn’t called a difference. It was just "weird."

And by the time I was in high school, I had convinced myself that something was wrong with me.

I Could Memorize the Periodic Table—But I Couldn’t Start a Conversation

I had no problem learning facts, numbers, and information.

I could memorize the periodic table of elements, solve complex problems, and absorb knowledge like a sponge.

But ask me to say a couple of sentences to a classmate? I’d freeze.

It was frustrating.

It was isolating.

And it was lonely.

I saw other kids having fun, going to parties, and moving through social situations like it was second nature.

Meanwhile, I was stuck in my own head, trying to figure out how to be me.

At the time, I didn’t have the words for it. All I knew was that I felt broken.

The Truth: I Was Never Broken—Just Different

Eventually, something changed.

Not because I magically "fixed" myself. Not because I took the right medication or forced myself into social situations.

What changed was understanding.

I started to see that my brain worked differently—and that wasn’t a flaw.

I didn’t need to be "repaired." I needed to be taught how I worked.

Over time, I learned how to communicate in ways that made sense for me.

I stopped forcing myself to be someone I wasn’t.

I started using my strengths instead of obsessing over my weaknesses.

And one day, I went from being the kid who couldn’t hold a simple conversation to the adult who could speak in front of hundreds of people.

Not because I changed who I was.

But because I finally accepted who I was.

What I Wish I Knew Then

At 17, I thought I was broken.

Now, I know better.

👉 You are not broken—no matter what your mind tells you.
👉 You don’t have to "fix" yourself to be worthy.
👉 You are enough, just as you are.

The world will try to convince you that you need to be "normal" to be accepted.

But trust me—you were never meant to be like everyone else.

You were meant to be you. Fully. Authentically. Unapologetically.

And that’s not a flaw—it’s your strength. Embrace it.

Stay curious. Stay human. And always, be kind.

The End of This Series—But Not the Conversation

🔹 This post is the final part of my “What I Wish I Knew at 17” series—a look back at the lessons I wish someone had told me when I was younger.

Thank you for following along, and if any of these posts spoke to you, let’s keep the conversation going.

💬 What’s something you wish you knew at 17?

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